Washing machine with improved power control means



J. C. WORST Nov; 21, 1967 Filed Nov. l8, 1966 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 m 1 r m A w. H% u z m e a 3 Iv 4, o 4 8 3 9- fi 4 3 4 u c LO| c a w a, w r J w .2 B M 7 0 L 5 4 H 7 8 3 z e 2 y 9% BE 0 3 a 5 & V T 0 8 v .2 TV. f R w F'IGJ INVENTOR.

:rosEPH c. we T BY fl H 5 ATT RNEY Nov. 21, 1967 c WORST 3,353,377

WASHING MACHINE WITH IMPROVED POWER CONTROL MEANS Filed Nov. 18, 1966 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. J'OSEZPH c. WORST I BY H x s ATTO RNEY United States Patent 3,353,377 WASHING MACHINE WITH IMPROVED POWER CONTROL MEANS Joseph C. Worst, Louisville, Ky., assignor to General Electric Company, a corporation of New York Filed Nov. 18, 1966, Ser. No. 595,455 3 Claims. (Cl. 68-12) This invention relates to washing machines and more particularly to an improved means for controlling the power applied to the fluid and fabrics in such machines.

The purpose of all automatic washing machines is to clean the fabrics processed in them; however, the cleaning or washing action must be controlled so as to prevent undue wear and damage to the fabrics. It is well known that it is desirable to use a short, gentle agitation cycle with warm water for delicate fabrics and a long, vigorous agitation cycle with hot water for sturdier fabrics such as cottons, which normally are dirtier. Therefore presently available washing machines include controls by which different predetermined combinations of washing parameters may be provided by different settings of the controls.

All of these prior art controls fail to provide an optimum control. They each ignore the very important fact that conditions within the washing machine change during the agitation process, particularly with regard to water temperature. Some fabrics, particularly those made from synthetic fibers, are less pliable when cold than hot so that the power effectively delivered to the fabrics in a washing machine varies with changes in the temperature of the wash fluid and the fabrics. Regardless of the fabrics being washed, this change in power is particularly serious with machines having agitators constructed from thermoplastic materials such as polypropylene. The vanes of such agitators are more rigid when cold than when hot and, if driven at the same speed, will deliver substantially more power to the fluid and fabrics when cold. Thus, it will be recognized that a power setting suitable at the beginning of a cycle of operation very often will not be appropriate later in the cycle, as the conditions Within the machine change.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide an automatic washing machine with an improved control means.

More particularly, it is an object of my invention to provide an automatic washing machine with an improved control means adapted to cause the power delivered to the agitator means of the machine to be varied dependent upon the temperature within the washing container of the machine.

A further, more specific, object of my invention is to provide a multi-speed, automatic washing machine with an improved control means adapted to cause the agitator means to be driven at different speeds dependent upon the temperature Within the washing container of the machine.

In one aspect of my invention I provide a washing machine including container means to receive fluid and fabrics to be cleaned in the fluid. Agitator means are included to agitate the fabrics and multi-speed drive means are provided and operatively connected to the agitator means. Control means, including temperature responsive means arranged to be responsive to the temperature of the materials within the container means, is connected to the drive means. The control means is adapted to cause the agitator means to be driven at different speeds dependent upon the temperature within the container means.

The subject matter which I regard as my invention is particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed in the con- Patented Nov. 21, 1967 eluding portion of the specification. The invention itself, however, both as to its organization and method of operation, together with further advantages thereof, may best be understood by reference to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings,

FIGURE 1 is a front elevational view of a clothes washing machine which includes my new and improved control, the view being partially broken away and partially in section to illustrate details;

FIGURE 2 is a schematic diagram of an electric control circuit incorporating one form of my invention, which circuit is incorporated in the machine of FIGURE 1.

Referring now to the drawings, and particularly to FIGURE 1, I have shown therein a domestic fabric washing machine 1 having a conventional basket or clothes receiving receptacle 2 provided over its side and bottom walls with perforations 3 and disposed within an imperforate tub or casing 4. The basket and tub together form a receptacle or container means to receive fluid and fabrics to be washed in the fluid. The basket may be provided with a suitable balance ring 5 to help steady the basket when it is rotated at high speed.

Tub 4 is rigidly mounted within an appearance cabinet 7, which includes a cover 8 hingedly mounted on the top portion 9 of the cabinet to provide access through an opening 10 to the basket. The rigid mounting of tub 4 within cabinet 7 may be effected by any suitable means, for instance, strap members could be provided, each of which is secured at one end to the cabinet and at the other end to the outside of the tub. At the center of basket 2 I have provided an agitator 11 which includes a centerpost 12, with a plurality of flexible water circulating vanes 13 extending outwardly therefrom. In the illustrated machine the agitator 11 is constructed from a thermoplastic material such as polypropylene. Such agitators accentuate the effect of temperature changes within the machine and my invention finds its greatest present use in connection with such machines, although it will be advantageous in other types of automatic washing machines.

Both the clothes basket 2 and the agitator 11 are rotatably mounted. The basket is mounted on flange 15 of a hub 16 and the agitator 11 is mounted on a shaft 17 which extends upwardly through the hub '16 and through the centerpost 12 and is secured to the agitator so as to drive it. During a cycle of operation of machine 1, fluid is introduced into the tub 4 and basket 2, the agitator 11 is then oscillated back and forth on its axis, that is, in a horizontal plane within the basket, to washthe fabrics therein. After a predetermined period of this washing action, basket 2 is rotated at high speed to extract centrifugally the washing fluid from the fabrics and discharge it to drain. Following this extraction operation, a supply of clean fluid is introduced into the basket and the agitator is again oscillated for rinsing the fabrics. Finally, the basket is once more rotated at high speed to extract the rinse fluid.

The basket 2 and agitator 11 may be driven by any suitable means. .By way of example, I have shown them as driven from a drive means including a reversible motor 18 and a multi-speed clutch 19 mounted on the motor shaft. The motor is tailored so as to be used to its full extent when it accelerates the basket 2 up to spin speed, and, in order to assist the motor during starting, clutch 19 allows the motor to start without load and then accept the load as it comes up to speed. The clutch also is designed to have a high speed and a low speed output and, for this purpose, includes an actuator 20 connected to a solenoid coil 21 so that, when the solenoid coil is deenergized the clutch will be effective to transmit power from the motor at a high speed and, when the coil 21'is energized, the clutch will be effective to transmit power from the motor at a low speed. Many clutches of this type are available which will provide this selectable multispeed operation. While the specific details of the clutch do not form part of my invention, reference is made to application Ser. No. 486,790, now US. Patent No. 3,324,- 984, filed by Gordon R. Brame on Sept. 13, 1965 and assigned to General Electric Company, assignee of the present invention. That patent discloses in detail the structural characteristics of one clutch mechanism suitable for use in the illustrated machine.

A suitable belt 22 transmits power from the clutch 19 to a transmission assembly 23 through a pulley 24. Thus, depending upon the direction of motor rotation, pulley 24 of transmission assembly 23 is driven in opposite directions. The transmission 23 is so arranged that it supports and drives both the agitator drive shaft 17 and the basket mounting hub 16. When motor 18 is rotated in one direction, the transmission causes agitator 11 to oscillate in a substantially horizontal plane within the basket 2. Conversely, when motor 18 is driven in the opposite direction, the transmission rotates the clothes basket 2 and agitator 11 together at high speed for centrifugal fiuid extraction. While the specific type of transmission does not form part of the invention, reference is made to Patent 2,844,225 issued to James R. Hubbard et al. on July 22, 1958 and owned by the General Electric Company, assignee of the present invention. That patent discloses in detail the structural characteristics of a transmission assembly suitable for use in the illustrated machine.

In addition to operating the transmission as described, motor 18 provides a direct drive through a flexible coupling 25 to a pump structure, generally indicated at 2-6, which may include two separate pumping units 27 and 28 both operated simultaneously in the same direction by motor 13. Pump unit 27 has an inlet connected by conduit 29 to an opening 30 formed in the lowermost part of tub 4. Pump unit 27 also has an outlet connected by a conduit 31 to a suitable drain (not shown). Pump unit 25 has an inlet connected by a conduit 32 to the interior of tub 4 and an outlet connected by a conduit 33 to a nozzle 34. The pump is formed so that, in the spin direction of rotation, pump unit 27 will draw liquid from opening 30 and discharge it through conduit 31 to drain, and, in the other direction of rotation, pump unit 28 will draw in liquid through conduit 32 and discharge it through conduit 33 and nozzle 34, each of the pumps being substantially inoperative in the direction of rotation in which it is not used.

Nozzle 34 is positioned to discharge into a filter pan 35 which may be secured on the top portion of agitator 11 so as to be movable therewith. With this structure, when the motor is rotating so as to provide agitation, pump unit 28 draws liquid through conduit 32 from tub 4 and discharges it through conduit 33 so that the liquid passes from nozzle 34 into filter pan 35, and then down through a number of small openings provided in the bottom of filter pan back into the basket 2. In this manner the filter pan 35 causes lint, which is separated from the clothes during the washing operation, to be filtered out of the water and thus prevents it from being redeposited on the clothes.

Motor 18, clutch 19, transmission 23, basket 2 and agitator 11 form a suspended washing and centrifuging sys tem which is supported by the stationary structure of the machine (including tub 4) so as to permit isolation of vibrations from the stationary structure. While any suitable suspension structure may be used, I prefer to use a suspension structure which includes a bracket member 36 With transmission 23 mounted on the top thereof and motor 18 mounted on the underside thereof. A counterweight 37 also may be mounted on the bracket member opposite motor 18 to counterbalance the weight of the motor and the clutch. The bracket member in turn is secured to upwardly extending rigid members 38 and each of the two upwardly extending rigid members 38 is con- 4 nected to a cable 39 supported from the top of the machine. While only a portion of the suspension system is shown in the drawing, such a vibration isolation system is fully described and claimed in Patent 2,987,190 issued to John Bochan on June 6, 1961, and assigned to General Electric Company, assignee of the present invention.

In order to accommodate the movement which occurs between basket 2 and tub 4 without any danger of fluid leakage therebetween, the stationary tub 4 is joined to the upper part of transmission 23 by a flexible boot member 4%. A suitable and highly effective member of this type is described and claimed in Patent 2,959,966 issued to John Bochan on Nov. 15, 1960 and assigned to General Electric Company, assignee of the present invention.

Hot and cold water may be supplied to the machine through conduits 41 and 42 which are adapted to be connected respectively to sources of hot and cold water (not shown). Conduits 41 and 42 extend into a conventional mixing valve 43 having solenoids 44 and 45 so that energization of solenoid 44 permits the passage of hot water through the valve to a hose 46, energization of solenoid 45 permits the passage or cold water through the valve, While energization of both solenoids permits mixing of hot and cold water in the valve and passage of warm water into the hose 46. The hose 46 is positioned to communicate with a nozzle 47 which, in turn, is positioned to discharge into basket 2 and tub 4 so that when one or both of the solenoids 44 and 45 are energized, water enters basket 2 and tub 4. The level to which the water rises in the basket 2 and tab 4 is controlled by a suitable water level control means such as pressure sensitive switch 48 mounted on the bottom of tub 44 and connected to the solenoids 44 and 45 to interrupt the supply of fluid when a predetermined level of fluid is reached in the tub 4 and basket 2. The user may select the desired water level in the machine as well as other features of a particular wash cycle by utilizing one or more of the pushbuttons 49 and control dial 50 provided on the backsplasher 51.

Referring now to FTGURE 2, the electrical control system for the machine of FIGURE 1 will be described. In connection with the circuit of FIGURE 2, it will be understood that present day washers often include various improvements such as control panel lights, bleach and rinse agent dispensers, etc., which do not relate to the present invention, and to some extent these have been omitted for the sake of simplicity and ease of understanding.

In order to control the sequence of operation of the components of machine 1, the circuit includes an automatic sequence control assembly which incorporates a timer motor 52 adapted to drive a plurality of cams 53, 54, 55 and 56 and rotate a printed circuit board 57. The cams, during their rotation by the timer motor actuate various switches (as will be described) and the printed circuit board, during its rotation by the timer motor, selectively connects certain contacts (as will be described), causing the machine to pass through an appropriate cycle of operation; first washing the clothes, then extracting the wash water, then rinsing the clothes in clean water, and finally centrifuging the rinse water from the clothes.

The electric circuit as a Whole is adapted to be energized from a power supply (not shown) through a pair of conductors 53 and 59. Cam 53 controls a switch 69 provided in the supply conductor 59 so that, when the cam 53 has assumed a position in which the switch 643' is open, machine 1 is disconnected from the power source and is inoperative. When operation of machine 1 is to be initiated, switch 60 is controlled by cam 53 so as to be closed. This may be accomplished manually by rota-ting dial 50, which is connected to the timer motor and thus to the cams. Then, when main switch 61 in conductor 58 is closed as by depressing control dial 50, power is provided to the control circuit of the machine from conduotor 58 to conductor 59.

From main switch 61 the circuit extends through a conductor 62 and a conductor 63 to one side of timer motor 52. The other side of timer motor 52 is connected by conductor 64 to a switch 65 controlled by cam 54. When switch 65 is closed it connects the timer motor through a conductor 66 and switch 60 to conductor 59. A parallel path to conductor 66 is provided by the other portion of conductor 64 which terminates in a contact 67 of the water level switch 48, which also includes an additional contact 68 and a movable arm 69. Operation of the water level switch 48 is such that, when the fluid in the tub and basket is below a predetermined level arm 69 is in engagement with contact 68 and, when the fluid is above the predetermined level, the arm is moved into engagement with contact 67, Thus, when the fluid in the tub and basket is above the predetermined level the timer motor is connected to supply conductor 59 through the water level switch 48, regardless of the position of cam operated switch 65.

An energizing circuit for the main motor 18 extends from conductor 62 through a conventional motor protector 70 and motor start winding 71 to a switch 72 of a relay 73, which also has a relay coil 74. From switch 72 the circuit extends through a conductor 75 and a switch 76 operated by cam 55 to conductor 64. One side of the main winding 77 of motor 18 is connected to one side of the relay coil 74 while the other side of the main winding is connected by a conductor 78 to a switch arm 79. The other side of relay coil 74 is connected by a conductor 80 to a switch arm 81. The switch arms 79 and 81 are controlled by cam 56 and are moved together by the cam so as to cooperate with a set of contacts 82, 83 and 84. The contact 82 is connected by a condoctor 85 to the supply circuit for the motor at a point between the motor protector 70 and the start winding 71. The contact 83 is connected by conductor 86 to the conductor 75. The contact 84 is connected through a lid switch 87 to the conductor 85. The lid switch is so constructed and mounted in the machine 1 that the switch is closed when the lid 8 of the machine is closed and open when the lid 8 of the machine is open. Thus, when the lid switch is connected in the supply circuit for motor 18, opening of lid 8 will cause the machine to stop operation.

The motor 18 is of the conventional type in which the start winding 71 assists the main winding 77 during the starting of the motor and is energized in parallel therewith. When a suitable current passes through the relay coil 74 it causes the relay switch 72 to be closed; which permits an energizing circuit for the start winding to be completed in parallel with the main winding. Relay coil 74 is designed to close switch 72 when a relatively high current, of the level demanded by the motor when the motor is rotating below a predetermined speed is passing through it. At other times, when there is no current passing through the relay coil 74 or when the current is below the required energizing level, as is true in the running speed range of the motor, the switch 72 is open. It will be noted that, with switch arms 79 and 81 in the position shown, that is, in engagement with contacts 82 and 83, the main winding 77 is connected in parallel with the start winding from the point between motor protector 70 and start winding 71 through conductor 85, contact 82, switch arm 79, conductor 78, main winding 77, relay coil 74, conductor 86, switch arm 81, contact 83, and conductor 86 to conductor 75. When the switch arms have been moved in response to rotation of cam 56 to their other position in which arm 79 engages contacts 83 and arm 81 engages contact 84 the circuit extends from between the motor protector 70 and start winding 71 through conductor 85, lid switch 87, contact 84, switch arm 81, conductor 80, relay coil 74, main winding 77, conductor 78, switch arm 79, contact 83, and conductor 6 86 to conductor 75. Thus in either position of the switch arms 79 and 81 the main winding is connected in parallel with the start winding. However, the relative polarity of the windings is reversed from one position of the switch arms to the other.

The cold water solenoid 45 is connected in a conductor 88 which extends from conductor 62 to a contact 89, a first wash temperature selection switch 90 is connected on one side by a conductor 91 to conductor 88 and on the other side it is connected to a conductor 92 which terminates in a contact 93. The hot water solenoid is connected on one side to conductor 62 and on the other side to a second wash temperature selection switch 94 by conductor 95. The other side of the second wash temperature selection switch is connected by conductor 96 to a contact 97. The conductors 92 and 96 are interconnected by a rinse temperature selection switch 98. An additional contact 99 is provided and connected by a conductor to the contact 68 of water level switch 48.

The contacts 89, 93, 97 and 99 are constructed and disposed to cooperate with printed circuit board 57. As

is well known in printed circuit control art, the printed circuit board is provided with conducting tracts such as those illustrated at 101 which are designed, as to their configurations and continuity, selectively to connect contact 99 with contacts 89, 93 and 97. The printed circuit board and contacts work in conjunction with temperature selection switches 90, 94 and 98 to provide the desired wash and rinse temperatures. By way of example, the conducting tracts 101 may be designed so that contacts 89 and 99 will be connected during rinse fill only, contacts 93 and 99 will be connected during both wash and rinse fill and contacts 97 and 99 will be connected during wash fill only. With these particular printed circuit connections, there may be provided several temperature selections in- .cluding a 'hot wash and warm rinse, a hot wash and cold rinse, a warm wash and warm rinse, a warm wash and cold rinse and a cold wash and cold rinse. The particular combination provided is determined by which of the temperature selection switches 90, 94 and 98 the user closes as by utilizing selected ones of the pushbuttons 49 provided on the backsplasher 51.

Now a typical cycle of operation for machine 1 will be described. As previously stated, at the end of a cycle of operation cam 53 opens switch 60 to turn off the machine. In order to initiate a subsequent cycle of operation, dial 50 is pulled out, opening switch 61, and rotated sufliciently to cause cam 53 to close switch 60, cam 54 to open switch 65, cam 55 to close switch 76, cam 56 to move switches 79 and 81 into engagement with contacts 82 and 83 respectively and printed circuit board 57 to rotate sufl'lciently to connect contacts 93 and 97 with contact 99 through predetermined ones of tracts 101. Dial 50 is then depressed, closing switch 61. Since there is essentially no fluid in the machine, arm 69 of water level switch 48 is in engagement with contact 68. With this switch arrangement timer motor 52 and main motor 18 are effectively disconnected from the supply circuit and one or both of the hot and cold water solenoids 44 and 45 are connected in the circuit, depending upon which of the switches 90, 94 and 98 have been closed by the user operating appropriate ones of the pushbuttons 49. Water of the temperature selected by the user flows into the machine through water inlet valve 43, hose 46 and nozzle 47 until the amount of fluid within the machine reaches the predetermined level at which arm 69 of pressure switch 48 moves from engagement with contact 68 into engagement with contact 67.

This effectively de-energizes the water valves and completes a circuit for both the main motor 18 and timer motor 52. Timer motor 52 begins to rotate and current is provided to the main winding 77 of the motor and the relay coil 74. Since the motor is initially below operating speed the current through the relay coil is high, causing switch 72 to close so that the start winding 71 is energized in parallel with the main winding 77. The motor quickly comes up to speed, after which switch 72 opens to de-energize start winding 71 and the motor continues to operate on the main winding alone. With switch arms 79 and 81 in the position shown, the main winding is connected to cause the motor to rotate in a direction to provide agitation; that is, the motor drives the transmission in a direction to cause the agitator to oscillate back and forth in a horizontal plane within the machine and pump unit 28 to recirculate fluid through filter pan 35 to filter lint from the wash fluid. This washing operation continues for a predetermined period of time, after which timer motor 52 causes cam 54 to close switch 65 and cam 55 to open switch 76. This eifectively de-energizes the main motor 18 so that it quickly stops while timer motor 52 continues to run.

During the pause of the main motor, timer motor '2 causes cam 56 to move switch arms 79 and 81 into engagement with contacts 83 and 84 respectively, thus reversing the polarity of main winding 77 with respect to start winding 71. Printed circuit board is rotated sufficiently to effectively disconnect contact 99 from all of contacts 89, 03 and 97. Cam 55 then recloses switch 76 restarting the motor, but in the opposite direction of rotation to cause a centrifugal extraction operation in which the basket and agitator rotate together at high speed to extract the fluid from the fabric and pump unit 27 evacuates the vitiated fluid to drain.

During the extraction operation the amount of fluid in the machine will quickly fall below the predetermined level so that switch arm 65 disengages from contact 67 and engages contact 68; however, this has no effect on the operation of the machine. The timer motor and main motor continue to run because the circuit for them is completed through conductor 64, switch 65, conductor 66 and switch e0 to supply conductor 59. No water is provided to the machine because the printed circuit board has been rotated by timer motor 52 to a position in which contact 99 is disconnected from all of the contacts 8?, 93 and 97.

At the conclusion of the wash extraction operation, cam 55 again opens switch 76 to de-energize the motor, cam 56 returns switches 7 9 and S1 to the positions shown in FIGURE 2 and the printed circuit board 57 is rotated to a position in which contact 99 is connected with contact 93 and contact 89, then cam 54 opens switch 65. The machine thus is set for a non-timed fill operation of rinse fluid until the amount of fluid in the machine reaches the predetermined level, causing arm 69 to engage contact 67. This causes the water valves 44 and 45 to be deenergized and the main motor again to be energized in the first or agitation direction so that the clothes will be rinsed in the clean fluid.

After a predetermined rinsing operation, cam 54 closes switch 65, cam 55 opens switch 76, cam 56 moves switches 79 and 81 to their second or spin position in engagement contacts 83 and 84 respectively, and printed circuit board 57 is rotated to a position in which contact 99 is disconnected from all of its associated contacts. Cam 55 then causes switch 76 to re-close to cause a second or rinse centrifugal extraction operation for removing the vitiated rinse fluid from the machine. At the conclusion of the rinse operation, the cam 53 opens switch 60 to eifectively completely disconnect the machine from the electrical power supply. The dial 50 and switch 61 may be constructed so that, at the same time switch 60 is opened, switch 61 is opened to completely isolate the control from electrical energy.

With the circuit as thus far described, the agitator will be operated at a uniform speed to theoretically deliver the same amount of power to the fabrics and fluid in the machine during both wash and rinse regardless of the temperature within the receptacle. However, in all machines, and more particularly in those machines with flexible fin type agitators, the power effectively delivered to the clothes increases as the temperature within the machine decreases and may cause damage to the fabrics being washed as well as over-load the transmission.

In order to control the elfective power delivered I incorporate in the control arrangement means for controlling the speed of the machine during wash and rinse agitation periods of operation. In this regard, the clutch control coil 21 is connected between a spin speed selector switch arm 102 and a wash speed selector switch arm 103, with each of the arms 102 and 103 being movable between two extreme positions by manual manipulation of appropriate ones of pushbuttons 49 on the baclrsplasher 51. In its extreme position shown, the arm 102 engages a contact 104 which is connected to conductor 78 for a fast spin selection. In its other extreme position, the arm 102 will engage a contact 105 which, in turn, is connected to conductor 62 to provide a slow spin speed selection. In its illustrated position, arm 103 engages a contact 106 which, in turn, is connected to the movable arm 107 of a thermostat 108 for a high agitation speed selection. In its other extreme or slow wash speed setting, the arm 103 engages a contact 111, which is connected to conductor 85, for a slow agitation speed selection.

As illustrated in FIGURE 1, the thermostat 108 is mounted in the tub 4 so as to be exposed to the fluid and fabrics in the machine and thus respond to the temperature within the receptacle of container means formed by basket 2 and tub 4. At temperatures below a predetermined level, the arm 107 will engage a contact 109 which is connected to conductor 36. At temperatures above the predetermined level, the arm 107 will move to engagement with a contact 110 which is connected to conductor 78.

As previously stated, the clutch 19 is of the type which will transfer power from motor 18 at a relatively high speed if the control coil 21 is not energized and will shift to a relatively low speed upon energization of the control coil. Keeping in mind that arms 79 and 81 are in engagement with contacts and 84 during spin or centrifugal extraction operations, a perusal of FIGURE 2 will show that the spin speed of the basket is dependent entirely upon the setting of switch arm 102. The arms 103 and 107 may be in either of their respective extreme positions without affecting the spin speed of the machine.

Similarly, during agitation periods of operation switch arms 79 and 81 engage contacts 82 and 83 respectively and the setting of spin speed selector switch arm 102 has no effect on the energization of coil 21. Whether the coil is energized to provide a relatively slow speed agitation speed or de-energized to provide a relatively high speed agitation depends upon the positioning of arms 103 and 107. Selection of a slow wash speed by moving arm 103 into engagement with contact 111 effectively disconnects the thermostat 108 from the circuit and, because of the positioning of switch arms 79 and 31 in engagement with contacts 82 and 83 respectively, the coil 21 always will be energized to provide slow wash speed, regardless of the setting of rinse speed selector switch arm 102. With arm 102 engaging contact 104 (as shown) the coil 21 is energized in parallel with the main winding 77 from conductor 78 through contact 104, arm 102, coil 21, arm 103 and contact 111 to conductor 86. With arm 102 engaging contact the coil 21 is energized in parallel with 'the main motor energizing circuit from conductor 62 through contact 105, arm 102, coil 21, arm 103 and contact 111 to conductor 85.

A different situation exists, however, when the fast wash speed is selected by moving arm 103 into engagement with contact 106. With the switch arrangement shown, that is, high wash speed selected, a high spin selected and the the thermostat indicating cold water, the coil 21 is connected in parallel with the main motor winding 77 and the relay coil 74 between conductor 78 and conductor 86. Similarly, if a slow spin speed has been selected (that is, arm 102 engaging contact 105) the control coil 21 will be connected in parallel with the main motor 18 between conductor 62 and conductor 86. Thus, it can be seen that with water below a predetermined temperature in the washing machine, the coil 21 will be energized to provide a slow agitation speed even though a high agitation speed selection has been made. If the temperature in the machine is above a predetermined temperature, the arm 107 will engage contact 110, in which case a fast spin selection (arm 102 engaging contact 104) will provide a circuit from the coil 21 through arm 103, contact 106, arm 107, contact 110, conductor 78, contact 104 and arm 102 back to coil 21, effectively deenergizing the coil. With a slow speed spin selected (arm 102 engaging contact 105) and Water above the predetermined temperature the circuit will extend from coil 21, through arm 103, contact 106, arm 107, contact 110, conductor 78, arm 79, contact 82, conductor 85, motor protector 70, conductor 62, contact 105 and arm 102 back to the coil 21. This once again insures that the coil 21 is de-energized.

Thus, it will be understood that the power delivered to the fabrics and fluid is varied during the agitation periods of operation in response to the temperature within the receptacle to insure that the power does not rise to a level suflicient to damage the fabrics, regardless of the speed selections made by the user.

For ease of illustration and understanding I have shown my invention in an embodiment including a two speed clutch and control arrangement mounted in a washing machine incorporating a flexible fin agitator. The flexible fin agitator has been illustrated since the deleterious effect of excessive power in response to a low temperature of the fluid and fabrics is heightened with a flexible fin agitator. However, there is a similar change of power, although to a smaller degree, with rigid fin agitators and with tumbler type washers, particularly when synthetic fabrics are being washed, and my invention may be utilized in such machines to provide an optimum washing operation. The two speed clutch and control have been shown for illustrative purposes only. Obviously, various other multi-speed drive means could be utilized and controlled in response to the temperature within the receptacle of the machine to vary the power delivered to the agitator means. For instance, a multiple speed motor could be used in place of the single speed motor 18 and the clutch eliminated. In which case, the control would cause a speed change of the motor. Also, rather than the centrifugal clutch referred to in this specification an electromagnetic clutch, for instance, could be employed with a control to either give a step type change of speed in response to temperatures such as described above or a gradual change as the temperature changes. The mechanisms for providing these and other multi-speed drives and controls are available and well understood and fall within the scope of my invention.

The foregoing is a description of illustrative embodiments of my invention, and it is my intention in the appended claims to cover all forms which fall within the scope of the invention.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A washing machine including container means to receive fluid and fabrics to be cleaned in the fluid; agitator means to agitate the fabrics in the fluid; drive means operatively connected to said agitator means to provide power to said agitator means for cleaning the fabrics; and control means, including temperature responsive means arranged to be responsive to the temperature within said container means, is connected to said drive means to cause the power delivered to said agitator means to be varied dependent upon said temperature.

2. A washing machine including container means to receive fluid and fabrics to be cleaned in the fluid; agitator means to agitate the fabrics in the fluid; multispeed drive means operatively connected to said agitator means for driving said agitator means; and control means, including temperature responsive means arranged to be responsive to the temperature within said container means, is connected to said drive means to cause said agitator means to be driven at different speeds dependent upon said temperature.

3. A washing machine including container means to receive fluid and fabrics to be cleaned in the fluid; agitator means to agitate the fabrics in the fluid; multi-speed drive means operatively connected to said agitator means for driving said agitator; control means, including temperature responsive means arranged to be responsive to the temperature Within said container means, is connected to said drive means; said temperature responsive means being adapted to be continuously eifective to cause said agitator to be driven at difierent speeds dependent upon said temperature.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,901,642 8/1959 Smith et a1. 6812 X 2,909,683 10/1959 Holzer 68-12 X 3,078,700 2/ 1963 Billings et a1. 6812 WILLIAM 1. PRICE, Primary Ex m n r. 

1. A WASHING MACHINE INCLUDING CONTAINER MEANS TO RECEIVE FLUID AND FABRICS TO BE CLEANED IN THE FLUID; AGITATOR MEANS TO AGITATE THE FABRICS IN THE FLUID; DRIVE MEANS OPERATIVELY CONNECTED TO SAID AGITATOR MEANS TO PROVIDE POWER TO SAID AGITATOR MEANS FOR CLEANING THE FABRICS; AND CONTROL MEANS, INCLUDING TEMPERATURE RESPONSIVE MEANS ARRANGED TO BE RESPONSIVE TO THE TEMPERATURE 